FAA Notice Answers EAAers' Call to Protect 51%-Approved Aircraft Kits
 

ATTENTION: MORE TIME PROVIDED FOR COMMENTS ON 51% PROPOSED POLICY
As we reported during AirVenture (July 29), the FAA granted EAA's request to extend the deadline through September 30, 2008 for comments on the newly proposed FAA policy for administering and enforcing the 51 percent rule. EAA encourages its members to review the policy and submit their comments to the FAA. EAA also asks that a copy of submitted comments be sent to govt@eaa.org. 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
The FAA last week ended its suspension of amateur-built aircraft kit evaluations, which had been in effect since February 2008. The FAA had put the kit evaluations on hold while it worked on a revision of its interpretation of the "51-percent" regulations that govern amateur-built aircraft. In a new policy statement, the FAA outlines its procedures for creating a National Kit Evaluation Team and establishes a standard methodology for evaluating amateur-built aircraft kits. The team will determine if a kit would allow an amateur builder to meet the "major portion" requirements of the FARs, but the team does not certify, approve, or recommend any of the kits, the FAA said. Submission of kits for examination is not required. EAA's Earl Lawrence, vice president of industry and regulatory affairs, welcomed the news and called it further evidence that there will be no surprises when the FAA proclaims its final policy for interpreting and enforcing the amateur-built aircraft regulations -- a policy that the experimental/amateur-built community has been anxious to see for some time.

Kits that are evaluated and are determined to meet the major-portion requirement of the FARs will be added to the List of Amateur-Built Aircraft Kits located on the FAA Web site.

                     Revised 51 Percent Policy Good News for Builders, Kit Makers
OCTOBER 7, 2009
"For the past four years, EAA and the amateur-built aircraft community have been facing perhaps the most significant threat ever faced by the homebuilt movement. But today, we're confident in declaring that the threat is over; the FAA this week released the long-awaited final order that revises the amateur-built aircraft certification policy known as the 51 percent rule as well as Advisory Circular 20-27G, the guide for amateur builders on how to properly certify every step of the building process."

This paragraph and much more hit my e-mail inbox on October 7, 2009, and it’s all good news, as compared to what it could have contained. Here’s a link to the full statement by the EAA, of which the above paragraph is just the opening.

The proposed changes that the EAA fought with due diligence were potentially crippling to the homebuilding community, and this news was welcomed relief. But reading the message had me asking more questions than what it answered, so I decided to read the 100 pages or so of FAA language, and I came away with a few answers to my questions that I’d like to share with you.  Read more